Canadian authorities tested the official emergency alert system on May 8, 2019, to make sure the loud notification tone and messages reached all cell phones. The emergency alerts are overseen by Alert Ready. Two earlier alerts went out at night, prompting a backlash from some Canadians who were wakened by the loud tones.
Ontario police are still asking the public to stop calling 911 to complain about receiving AMBER Alerts after an alert was issued in May and another one in July for two children believed to have been abducted.
One woman launched a campaign to fine people who call 911 to complain about AMBER Alerts. Dalia Monacelli is hoping her Change.org petition will convince the Ontario attorney general to levy fines against the complainers. “People have to understand that when they dial 911, they are taking time and personnel away from actual emergencies and that these actions could cost lives,” wrote Monacelli.
More than 100,000 people signed the petition as of August 8, 2019.